profitable

1 of 2

adjective

prof·​it·​able ˈprä-fə-tə-bəl 

ˈpräf-tə-bəl

: affording profits : yielding advantageous returns or results

profitability

ˌprä-fə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

profitableness

ˈprä-fə-tə-bəl-nəs 

noun

profitably

ˈprä-fə-tə-blē 

adverb

profitability

2 of 2

noun

prof·​it·​abil·​i·​ty ˌpräfə̇təˈbilətē 

: the quality or state of being profitable

getting things done that contribute to the profitability of the company

—G. B. Hurff

Synonyms of profitable

Adjective

• lucrative
• worthwhile

Examples of profitable in a Sentence

Adjective

The movie was very profitable.

selling real estate on the side turned out to be a profitable venture for the stay-at-home mom

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

While some analysts warn of an existential threat, others argue VW remains profitable, recalling past crises where drastic structural changes were avoided. — Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Shrimp farming is often held up as a success story in that vein, a profitable adaptation to rising salinity. — Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, The Dial, 7 July 2026

The most consistently profitable segment within NBCUniversal in recent years has been its theme parks. — Robert Niles, Oc Register, 7 July 2026

The raise comes as the company surpasses $200 million in net revenue, grew over 50% year-over-year, and turned profitable. — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for profitable

• unprofitable

Kids Definition

profitable

adjective

prof·​it·​able ˈpräf-ət-ə-bəl 

ˈpräf-tə-bəl

: producing profit

profitably

-blē 

adverb

Legal Definition

profitable

adjective

prof·​it·​able ˈprä-fə-tə-bəl 

: affording profits : yielding advantageous returns or results

profitability

ˌprä-fə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

profitableness noun

profitably adverb